Trainer Tip Tuesday! There are many benefits in ponying your horse, but there are also some safety factors to keep in mind when doing this. First of all the horse you are using to pony off of should be calm and confident. They don't have to be neck reining, but when you are managing another horse, there will be times when you will only be able to use one hand to direct them.
I highly recommend the use of a muzzle on the horse being ponied. At least until they are proficient at it. The muzzle will keep their attention focused on you and they won't be able to learn to steal grass or possibly bite the horse you are riding.
There are a few points you need to consider for the horse you are riding before attempting ponying another horse off of them. The horse you are riding should be comfortable with having pressure on the horn if you have to dally up and pull the horse you are ponying. When you have to do this, it can put a great deal of front and back cinch pressure on your riding horse. So to test them to see how they handle it, put a lariat rope on the horn in your round pen and have your horse move out. While they are, pull hard on the lariat to pull them off balance and mimic that added pressure. You can also have the lariat come around the side of their hip and under their tail to check your horse out and ensure they aren't reacting adversely to it. These are real dangers that can cause you to have a wreck while ponying if your horse isn't comfortable with it.
20161109_145822.jpg
Assuming your riding horse is good with these factors, do you know how to correctly take a wrap or two around your horn and be able to get it off quickly if needed? If you are leading the pony horse with your right hand, go from the right hand side of your horn across the front of your horn in a counter-clockwise direction. Your hand should be making a fist with your thumb facing the sky, and holding the tail of your rope at the front 12 o'clock position of your horn. If you get into trouble, simply lift your hand straight up in the air and the dally should come off quickly and easily. I prefer to use a longer cotton rope when ponying, as well as always wear good leather gloves. Other fibers can give you bad rope burn and stick into your horn which would be undesirable. The reason for having a longer rope is so that if you are on a narrow, single lane trail you have enough rope to send your pony horse directly behind your riding horse.
img_20150702_132204.jpg
When you are navigating trail obstacles such as a log to walk over, be sure to slow your riding horse down after crossing it. Give the pony horse time to be able to walk over it also. Typically a horse will slow their feet to walk over a log and then pick up the pace again, so you need to think about the pace your riding horse is going when the pony horse is attempting to also walk over the log. The idea of ponying is so that your pony horse gains confidence from your riding horse and is much more willing to navigate the terrain they may otherwise be unsure of.
20161108_170613.jpg
If your riding horse is not calm and confident with the environment and terrain, the pony horse will not feel safe or secure either. It is ideal to keep the pony horse on a fairly short rope, with their head by your leg or at least adjacent to the hip of your riding horse unless you can't due to the trail. The reason for this is that they can't cross behind your horse to the other side and get you and your riding horse into trouble. They also wouldn't be able to pass your riding horse if they spooked or tried to bolt. If the pony horse wanted to pull back or jump in the air, they could potentially strike you with their front feet if there is too much slack in your rope.
20161109_145455.jpg
When crossing rivers that are deep or with a swift current, it is best to have your pony horse on the downside of it. If something were to happen, your personal safety should always be considered first and foremost! When your pony horse plants their feet and wants to refuse, hold firm and steady pressure and allow them to come forward off of it, don't do more and don't do less. No different than you would do on the ground if you were leading them. Personally, I like to pony a horse out first on the trails I plan on riding them on to see how they handle it, before riding them on it. This way they can figure obstacles out for themselves without the added confusion of a rider and you can safely decide if they will be safe for you to ride out.
Happy Trails! -Dawn
I highly recommend the use of a muzzle on the horse being ponied. At least until they are proficient at it. The muzzle will keep their attention focused on you and they won't be able to learn to steal grass or possibly bite the horse you are riding.
There are a few points you need to consider for the horse you are riding before attempting ponying another horse off of them. The horse you are riding should be comfortable with having pressure on the horn if you have to dally up and pull the horse you are ponying. When you have to do this, it can put a great deal of front and back cinch pressure on your riding horse. So to test them to see how they handle it, put a lariat rope on the horn in your round pen and have your horse move out. While they are, pull hard on the lariat to pull them off balance and mimic that added pressure. You can also have the lariat come around the side of their hip and under their tail to check your horse out and ensure they aren't reacting adversely to it. These are real dangers that can cause you to have a wreck while ponying if your horse isn't comfortable with it.
20161109_145822.jpg
Assuming your riding horse is good with these factors, do you know how to correctly take a wrap or two around your horn and be able to get it off quickly if needed? If you are leading the pony horse with your right hand, go from the right hand side of your horn across the front of your horn in a counter-clockwise direction. Your hand should be making a fist with your thumb facing the sky, and holding the tail of your rope at the front 12 o'clock position of your horn. If you get into trouble, simply lift your hand straight up in the air and the dally should come off quickly and easily. I prefer to use a longer cotton rope when ponying, as well as always wear good leather gloves. Other fibers can give you bad rope burn and stick into your horn which would be undesirable. The reason for having a longer rope is so that if you are on a narrow, single lane trail you have enough rope to send your pony horse directly behind your riding horse.
img_20150702_132204.jpg
When you are navigating trail obstacles such as a log to walk over, be sure to slow your riding horse down after crossing it. Give the pony horse time to be able to walk over it also. Typically a horse will slow their feet to walk over a log and then pick up the pace again, so you need to think about the pace your riding horse is going when the pony horse is attempting to also walk over the log. The idea of ponying is so that your pony horse gains confidence from your riding horse and is much more willing to navigate the terrain they may otherwise be unsure of.
20161108_170613.jpg
If your riding horse is not calm and confident with the environment and terrain, the pony horse will not feel safe or secure either. It is ideal to keep the pony horse on a fairly short rope, with their head by your leg or at least adjacent to the hip of your riding horse unless you can't due to the trail. The reason for this is that they can't cross behind your horse to the other side and get you and your riding horse into trouble. They also wouldn't be able to pass your riding horse if they spooked or tried to bolt. If the pony horse wanted to pull back or jump in the air, they could potentially strike you with their front feet if there is too much slack in your rope.
20161109_145455.jpg
When crossing rivers that are deep or with a swift current, it is best to have your pony horse on the downside of it. If something were to happen, your personal safety should always be considered first and foremost! When your pony horse plants their feet and wants to refuse, hold firm and steady pressure and allow them to come forward off of it, don't do more and don't do less. No different than you would do on the ground if you were leading them. Personally, I like to pony a horse out first on the trails I plan on riding them on to see how they handle it, before riding them on it. This way they can figure obstacles out for themselves without the added confusion of a rider and you can safely decide if they will be safe for you to ride out.
Happy Trails! -Dawn
